Tom Carper: “the Senate recently passed S. Res. 31, a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the week of August 7, 2005…”

“the Senate recently passed S. Res. 31, a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the week of August 7, 2005, be designated as ``National Health Center Week.'' In keeping with this resolution, I rise today to commend the work of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Community Health Centers and of all of the health centers of Delaware for the role they play in delivering quality, affordable health care to the people of Delaware. Community health centers are community-run and open to all Americans regardless of their ability to pay. Delaware has a number of community health centers, including Westside Health in Wilmington and Newark, Henrietta Johnson in Wilmington, Delmarva Kent Community Health Center in Dover, and La Red Health Center in Sussex County. These centers and those across our Nation are extremely valuable, operating in both rural and urban medically underserved areas and providing care that might not otherwise be available to residents. By serving as a point of access for affordable primary and preventive care, health centers also help patients stay healthier or, if they are ill, allow them to receive treatment earlier. This prevents patients from having to seek care in the most expensive setting--the emergency room--and therefore can save money for our health system as a whole. Again, I wish to commend the health centers of Delaware for their dedication. I thank them for the valuable services they provide to all Delawareans.…”